End sheet folding apparatus



May 10, 1932. F. M, BRACKETT ET AL. 1,858,034

END SHEET FOLDING APPARATUS lFiled May 5, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS.

May 10, 1932. F. M. BRACKETT ET AL END SHEET FOLDING APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 10; '1932. F. MBRACKETT ET AL END SHEET FOLDING APPARATUS A ff,

Filed May. 5, 1950 Patented May 10, 1932 Ul'ED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRED M. BRACKETT, LEO C. WILLIAMS, AND DIETRICH DAN EKE, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS, ASSIGNORS TO TI-IE BRACKETT STRIPPING- MACHINE CO., OF TOPEKA, KANSAS, A COPARTNERSHIP CONSISTING 0F EDWARD M. BRAGKETT AND FRED M. BRACKETT END SHEET FOLDING APPARATUS i Application filed May 5, 1930. Serial No. 449,812.

Our invention relates to stripping mafchine's whereby a binding strip is attached Vone part to the corresponding.marginof the other part, not only involving laborious operations and consuming an excessive amount of time,l but incurring the hazard that the books may be soiled or rumpled and that pressuremay not be applied in the manner best suited to effect the joining of the marginal portions. Y

Our invention therefore has for its principal objects to provide apparatus adapted'to fold an open tipped book and apply pressure to marginal folded portions for causing the inner margins of the book parts t0 adhere to each other, to provide an attachment adaptedto receive an open tipped book from a stripping machine or the like and automatically effect the attachment of book parts and deliver folded books, and to automatically fold an end sheet over a tippedsignature and apply pressure to a limited marginal portion ofthe end sheet for effecting attachment thereof to the tipped portion of the signature.

ln accomplishing these and other objects of our invention, we haveprovided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. lis a plan view ofa portion of a stripping machine and a folding attachment constructed in accordance with our inven-V attachment adapted to be mounted in receivtion mounted in receiving and Adriven relation with the machine.

Fig. 2 is avvertical cross section on the line 22, Fig. 1. f

Fig. 3 is a .longitudinal section through the attachment on the line 3 3, Fig. 1.

Fig. .4 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 4 4, Fig. 2.

F ig; 5 is a detail perspective view of shield and guard kmembers and adjacent portions of the attachment, connected end sheets and signatures being shown fragmentarily before and during folding and attaching steps.

Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary perspective Vview of rollers and roller supports for retaining book parts while being acted upon by the apparatus. f

Fig. 7 is a detailperspective View of a roller and its mounting.

Referring in detail to the drawings:

l designates the delivery. end portion of a stripping or tipping machine including end vertical frame members 2, a table or bed plate `3 supported by the frame, belts 4c for conveying work across the machine, and an operating shaft 5.

The machine is illustrated as adapted to apply a hinge lstrip 6 to the back edge portions of a waste' sheet 7 integral with an end vsheet 8, and the back page of a signature 9,

and to tip the signature by applying to the front page 10 thereof along the back margin, a stripe ll of gluey whereby the inner margin of t-he page may be attached to the inner marginal portion of the end sheet when the end sheet and signature are folded together on their hinge connection. n Y Y It is apparent, of course, that the work may consist of a single or compound end sheet and thesignature may consist of anyV number of leaves. f 1

The signature and end sheet hingedly connectedV by the strip are ordinarily delivered fiat from the bed of a stripping or tipping machine to a shelf and operators then fold ltlie-end sheet over the signature and Vapply pressure to the marginal portions .of the ing relation with a` machine of the character described to receive the open stripped and tipped assemblies, automatically fold the Y same, and effect the attachmentY of the end sheets to the signatures.

The -attachment includes a frame-like support comprising parallel end bars 12 and 13,

an intermediate middle bar 14, driving and driven shafts 15 and 16 mounted in the ends of the bars, intermediate rods 17 and 18 having ends ixed in the bars, and brackets 19 and 20 attached to the machine at opposite sides rthereof having 'j ournal portions 21 and 22 respectively, for receiving the ends of the shaft 15 for pivotally supporting theattachment. Sets of braces or legs'23 andf24'pivota-lly mounted onthe rods 17v and 18', are adapted to-supportthe attachment in horizontal position so that connected signatures and end sheets may be deliveredthereto'from the bed plate. y

Laterally spaced setsof drive rollers 25v andr26 andV driven rollers27 and: 28 are mounted on the shafts 15 and16 respectively Yand a relatively" Wide and stiff flexible belt 29 is mounted'on the inner ends ofthe rollers 26V and.' 28, the shaft 15 androller 26 being driven'by. a chain 30 running on asprocket 31on1the shaft 15, .anda sprocket 32 on the plurality orfrollers 39 'having'k spindlesv4()V mounted in the bars, the rollers supporting the upper run of the belt lin horizontal position and being. adapted to cooperate with signature pressing. rollers 41 *mounted on a bar 42 later described, for moving the Vsignature across the attachmentv and retaining the signature against lateral movementv while being operated upon.

Theupper roller bar 42 is supported by an adjustable an'd'movable frame including a pair of rods 43 having ends mount'edin' the bar and outer ends removably fixed by bolts 44 in clamps 45 and 46 fixed to the inter-mediatefsha'fts byV bolts 47, as' clearly illustrated inAv Fig. 6.

The rollers are mounted in yoke-like brackets 4'8 which are pivot'ally supported on bolts 49'mounted in thebar'42 and have axles 50 projeotin'gthrough' relativelylarge openings 51 in the bar beyond'the outer face of the same and provided with annular grooves 52 to receive resilient' ingers' or springs 53 projecting from spacing blocks 54 mounted on the bolts 49 and retained by' nuts 55. The springs are adapted to pressfthe rotatable and pivotally supportedrol-lers downwardly against the belt at points contacted by theflowerY rollers: as clearly shown in Figs.

In order to simplify construction and reduce the number of parts required, the bar supporting rods may take the place of bolts 49 for supporting selected roller brackets as illustrated in Fig. 6.

The rollers 41 and 39 are located adjacent the inner edge ofthe belt and in the path of the signature to engage the same in spaced Vrelation with the tippedniarginal portion thereof to afford-space for folding the end sheet over the signature as presently described.

Mounted on the intermediate rod 18 is a clamp bracket 56 for supporting an end sheet foldingdevice including a bottom plate 57, and having a stiiening rib or band 58 extending longitudinally therealong, a block 59 iixed to the rib forming a reinforcing member apertured so that a bolt 60 may be passed through the block, rib and bottom plate into the clamp.

The rib projects angularly downwardly from the rear end of the bottomV plate and a clamp 61 mounted on the intermediate rod 17 is adjustable to engage the end of the rib for supporting the rear end of the folding device at a suitable elevation above the belt, the rib being located in laterally spaced relation with the belt and sets of'rollers.

Theplate 57 is adjustably supported with its forward inner longitudinal edge portion 63jlocated adjacent the path of the inner edge of the glue stripe on the signature and thus extending over the path of the back edge marginal portions of the end'sheet and signature, such relation being particularly well shown in Fig. 5. The inner edge ofthe plate tapers'rearwardly away from the edge portion 63 and terminates at a point exterior to the outer edge of the belt, and a wing 65 inclined upwardly inwardly over the bottom plate is erected on the angularly extending edge portion of the bottom plate to engage under the advancing free corner of the end sheet and lift the same, while the signature and end sheet are being moved'across theV attachment. Y

The back marginal portions of the signature andy end sheet will therefore pass under the inner edge of the bottom plate.

A triangular flange 66 projects toward the area occupied by the signature from the upper edge of a vertical side plate 67 erected on the edge of the bottom plate, to engage the outer free edge portion of the end sheet and tend to shift the same laterally toward the signature.

A guar-d wall member 69 having an inclined face 7() is provided with spaced legs 71 and 7 2 at opposite ends for mounting on the roller bar 42 to support the folded over end sheet and prevent the same from falling into overlying relation with thesignature.

bottom plate andoperates in a notch 7 5 in the outer end of the bottom plate adjacent the side Wall 67 upon the folded-over portion of the end sheet to press the back marginal portion of the endsheet against the tipped margin of the signature. s

The structure so far described is adapted to fold over and. attach an end sheet xed to a signature as illustrated in F ig. 5.

In order to provide for readjustment of the parts of the attachment to .fold members oppositely, that is to'fold an end sheet and signature when the same are oppositely related, the folding device is formed With r duplicate parts, the bottom` plate comprising similar halves and therefore having inclined Wings .76 and Walls 7 7 on its opposite edge and a resilient finger 78 at the front edge of the plate opposite to the finger 7 3.

The rearrangement of the parts is further promoted due to the manner of mounting the rollers and guard member 69, and Vthe clamps are made With reversible portions, for example the clamp brackets havingvoppositely extending slots 8() and rod receiving openings 81 at the inner ends of the slots whereby the folding device and bar 42 may be mounted on the opposite sides of the belt from the positions shown in Fig. 1.

When the end sheet folding device is located on the opposite side of the belt the roller supporting' bar is removed from the clamps 45 and 46 and then mounted in the clamps 56 and 61 on the opposite side of the belt to cause the rollers 41 to engage the opposite edge portion of the belt.

i lVhile the bar is being moved, the roller axles will be retained in the bar openings,

and pressed against the inner edges of the i kincluding a support, means for moving a openings by the spring lingers. The bar will be turned over when repositioned, and the spring fingers may then be removed from the axle grooves and replaced in opposite relation with the vroller axles to press the roll-l ers downwardly against the belt.

The guard member 69 is turned about so that its inclined face 70 may be properly presented to the end sheet and replaced on the roller supporting bar 52.

Tapes 82 are further provided on the driving and driven rollers, to assistin supporting the signatures and end sheets, and are spaced to permit the projection of the clamps therebetween for supporting the roller bar and folding device vfrom the intermediate transverse shafts.

What We claimand desire to secure by Letters Patent is i y 1. In appara-tus of the character described, a support, means for moving a book across the support, means for effecting partial'closure of the book While the same is being moved across the support, and means operating on the partially closed area yof the book to press the margin of one portion thereofV against the opposite portion.:

2. In combination With a machine including means for applying an adhesive element to a margin of a book or the like and means tion for pressing the margin of the same against the opposite portion to render the adhesive element effective.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a support, a conveyor for moving a signature and an end sheet hinged thereto across the support, means for effecting partial closure of the end sheet over the signature While the 4same are passing acrossk the support, means for effecting bending of a. limited area of the back marginal portion of the end sheet into engagement with the similar margin of the signature, and means operating automatically to press said bent portion of the end sheet into engagement with said marginal portion ofthe signatures.

4. In combination With a machine adapted to deliver a sheet in open position, an attachment for themachine including means for translating they sheet, means including a horizontal shield having a vertical Wing extending over a portion of the path of the sheet forV eecting movement of one portion of the sheet toward the adjacent portion, and means for-limiting the movement of the lirst named portion of the sheet. l

5. Apparatus of the character described 0f said folded-'over portion 'of the sheet, and

means including'a resilient finger on said shield operating on said folded portion for pressing said portions together.

6. Apparatus of the character described including a support, means including a belt Y for translating asheetV including hinged leaves having an adhesivestripe on the inner margin of one of said leaves across the support, means including a shield having a vertical Wing extending over a portion of the pathof the sheet for moving the inner margin of onelelaf into overlying relation With the inner margin of the adjacent leafan`d means including a resilient linger supported' by said shield and bearing against the belt for pressing -said margins into adhering en- Y gageme-nt While the sheet is being translated across the support.

1. In apparatus of-thecharacter described, a support, means formoving a book consisting of hinged leaves across the support, a horizontal shield mounted on the support having a depending finger extending in the path of the sheet to engage one of said leaves to-cause the-same to rise While moving across the support, and adapted to fold the inner tially vertical position;

8.V Apparatus of the character described including'a support, a belt movably mounted on the: support for moving a signature and.

end sheet across the support, a plurality of sets offrollers engaging the upperrun of the belt on. opposite sides thereof to latch the signature to the belt, and means for effecting folding movement of said end sheet toward said signature While the same is being moved across. theY support.

. 9. .In apparatus of the character described, a support including a. frame and an. endless belt ruiming on theframe, a roller bar having a, series of openings,` a series ofrollers having pivotal mountingI on said .bar and axles projecting throughv said openings, means removablysupporting the bar from -theefraine above the belt,and springs fixed to said. bar. and engaging said. rollervaxles to urge'` the rollers into engagement with the belt for latchi'ng a sheet to the belt.

10. In apparatus of' the character described including a support, an endlessbelt, and means for moving the beltv acrossthe support,means for latching a sheet or the like to the-belt, includingv a bar having an opening-removably mounted on the supportabove the belt, a roller havingan. axle extended to project through said opening and provided f with .an annulai'groove, a bracket pivotallj7 supporting` the roller' from the bar, and a resilient fingerfixedto the bar and extending across said openingto engage Vin said groove for urging the.bracket-supported rollerinto engagement With the belt.

11. InV apparatus of the character described including mea-ns for deliveringV a sheet providedl with a moist adhesive stripe arranged longitudinally thereon and spaced from. the side edges of the sheet, meansoperable on a limited area of the sheet adjacent said stripe and having a member bearing onsaid limited area to press saidv area upon the stripe.

12. Inend sheet folding apparatus, moving means for supporting a sheet, and sta tionary means engageable With a limited yintermediate portion of the moving sheet and having meanseffective upon 4continued Y movement ofthe sheet for folding said limv ited portion on a longitudinal fold line into engagement with the,V corresponding limited portionof the sheet on the opposite side of the foldI line.

13., Apparatusl of the character described including means for applying a longitudinal adhesive stripe on the inner margnial portiony of one of a pair'of Vhinged sheets adjacent the hinge thereof, and means operative on the other of'said sheets for folding said last named sheet on the hinge into engagement With the first namedsheet.

14. Apparatus ofthe character described including'a support, a belt for moving a sheet across the support, means including a pair of rollers engaging opposite sides of the belt for retaining the sheet in engagement with the belt, and means for effecting .folding movement` of the sheet While the same is being moved across the support.

15. InV apparatus of the character described including a support and a member movable on the support, a bar mounted on the support adjacent said member, a roller hav.- ing pivotal mounting on the bar, an axle on the roller, andv resilient means on the bar engagaing the axle to urge the roller into engagement With said member.

16. In apparatus of the character de scribed including a support and a belt running on the support, an apertured bar mounted on the support above the belt, a rollier having pivotal mounting on the bar, an axle on the roller projecting into the aperture of the bar, and aspringA fixed to the bar and. having a free end engageable with the axle for urging the roller intoengagement with the belt.

In testimony whereof We aiix our signatures.k

FRED M. BRACKETT. LEO C. WILLIAMS. DIETRICH DANEKE.

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